The Queen has done an act which is of much
more import- ance in the world of Art than might be supposed, by granting to the members of the Royal Water-colour Society in Pall Mall ' the distinction of a diploma signed by her own hand. That Society, since its foundation in 1804, has performed services for which all lovers of a form of Art which is peculiarly English cannot but be grateful. It has been to alI water-colourists, and especially to landscape-painters, what the Royal Academy has been to painters in oil-colour ;—to be a member of it has prac- tically been the highest honour which a water-colour painter, us such, could aspire to. Her Majesty has recognised this fact, and has placed the two institutions, as far as official rank is concerned, on a level with each other. Whatever their legal status may be, it is certain that in the case of either Society, a national trust has been confided. We have every reason to believe that this is the view of their new honour which will be taken by the members of what was once affectionately called "The Old Water-colour Society," and that they will use every endeavour to maintain and increase, by fresh exertions and li1aeral acts, the respect in which that Society has loug been held.
Previous page
